Glasgow 2014 chief executive: Games set new gold standard

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games set a "new gold standard" for the movement, organisers have said.

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games set a \"new gold standard\" for the movement, organisers have said.

David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 chief executive, hailed the success of the Games as a new report highlighted the benefits of hosting the spectacle.

The Highlights report examined the impact of the Games on Glasgow and Scotland.

It found there were more than 600,000 individual visitors to Games and Festival 2014 events between July 23 and August 3.

Many visitors attended several events, with 1.2 million tickets sold - around 96% of those available for sale.

The Games appeared to have a positive impact on retail. During Glasgow 2014 the number of shoppers in the city increased by just under 22% compared to the same period last year, while across Scotland the figure was up by almost 14%.

The majority of visitors reported a positive experience, with 97% of spectators at ticketed events saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the atmosphere in the venue.

Just over nine in 10 (91%) of spectators at ticketed events said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall Games experience.

Mr Grevemberg said: "The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games set a new gold standard for the Commonwealth sports movement, new benchmarks for event delivery in Scotland and generated well-deserved accolades for Glasgow which, as the host city, warmly embraced athletes and visitors during Scotland's biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival.

"Staying true to our vision of an athlete-centred, sport-focused Games, the Glasgow 2014 organising committee worked in collaboration with our Games partners to make Commonwealth athletes and the young people of Glasgow and Scotland an integral part of a world-class, community-relevant Commonwealth Games that made people feel proud and which leaves a lasting impact."

The Games will be delivered within the budget of £575.6 million, with a target of £112.6 million to be raised by Glasgow 2014 through commercial income from broadcasting rights, ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise sales.

During the 11-day event, nine world records and 142 Commonwealth records were set, including four Games records from Scottish athletes.

Team Scotland fielded its largest ever team with 310 athletes, and secured 53 medals - 19 gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze, ranking fourth in the overall medal table.

The team surpassed its target of breaking its previous record haul of 33 medals in Edinburgh in 1986.

Commonwealth Games Secretary Shona Robison MSP said: "Today's Highlights report demonstrates just how successful the XX Commonwealth Games were. We set out to deliver the best Games in history, and we certainly didn't disappoint.

"Scotland showed it is a warm, friendly and welcoming country by opening its doors to visitors from across the Commonwealth.

"The Games have left a lasting legacy that will continue for generations and I am sure we will soon see our young stars of the future beginning to emerge as a result."

Almost nine in 10 (86%) of spectators at ticketed events said they were likely or very likely to recommend attending future events in Glasgow and Scotland.

Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said the Games had given the city a big boost.

He said: "It put Glasgow in the spotlight like never before and the city has emerged as the biggest winner along with our people who have been truly outstanding in welcoming the Games, the visitors and being supportive of all that hosting an event of this scale involved."

The report was released by the Scottish Government and Games partners.

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